Huntsville gazette., 1887-01-08
THE FREIGHT PROBLEM.
Interesting Results of the Investigation by
the Senate Committee on Transportation
Routes to the Seaboard-America as
Source of Cereal Supply.

Routes to the Seaboard-America as q
Source of Cereal Supply.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4-Senator Aldrich
made public last night the report OF the
Senate committee on transportation
routes to the seaboard on the subject OF
railroad fre1e11Js in the United States and
foreign countries. The report contains
tabulated statements of the progress in
production and transportation in the prin-
cipal countries of the world.
Efforts were made by the committee to
group together the average yearly price
of grain at the various grain centers in the
United States for series of years, and
show the difference in price per bushel at
various points between these geo
graphical sections, which would
represent, in a measure,
the freight and the tendency of the rates
Of freight charges. 1t is shown for ex-
ample that the difference in the prices of
corn between the Atlantic ports and the
lakes have steadily declined from 81 cents
per bushel in 1873 to 10 cents per bushelin
1888; between Atlantic ports and western
river ports from 10 cents in 1878 to II cents
in 1888
An attempt was made by the committee
to ascertain the rates of freight from the
principal intern ediate points to the sea-
board, and also from intermediate points
to the principal cities of various States
The investigation was conducted in hope
of ascertaining facts in regard to the diff
ference between the rates charged for
long hauls and short hauls and to throw
light upon the veXed question of long
and a short haul. In relation to this in
quiry the committee says if the returns
from which the above summary is con-
structed may be relied on (and the com
mittee has been careful to select re
turns that appeared on their face correct)
the rates for local freight are evidently
evied on a somewhat general principle of
what the traffic will bear.
In Massachusetts, when terminals are
taken INTO consideration, the cost Of trans
porting a bushel Of wheat is more nearly
equitable than in any other State repre-
sented in the summary. Still, we find the
anomoly Of a lesser rate for SO miles thar
for Is miles. In Pennsylvania the local
rates are higher than in Massachusetts.
In Ohio the rate is about the same on &C
as on 80 miles, while the long
haul of 215 miles, instead of being
relatively less, is relatively greater.
In Massachusetts in 1888 it cost 46
cents to trar sport d bushel of wheat 4t
miles, the cost in Connecticut for trans
porting the same 50 miles was cents; in
Pennsylvania, 60 miles, AZ cents, and in
Ohio, 60 miles, cents. Of course the con-
ditions may not have been the same.
Farther West we find in Kansas A.
cents per bushel for transporting a
bushel of wheat 46 miles, and in Massa-
chusetts for same service 81 miles, ~
cents, while California pays 5.3 per bushel
for 80 miles.
Turning from the United States to for
eign countries the comm ittee show the
production and consumption of cereals in
Europe, and bring out the fact that the in
crease in population has been relatively
much greater in great grain producing
countries than in the grain buying coun-
tries. The United Kingdom appears to
have purchased about tWo-thirdS OF all
the wheat in the United States exported
during this period, and therefore special
attention has been given to England's sup
ply of wheat. For this purpose table was
prepared giving a summary OF the wheat
imported into the United Kingdom OF
Great Britain and ireland from various
countries during from 1886 to 1912, inclu-
siye. and the decades from 1912 to 1882
inclusive, showing the total impOrtations
of wheat and the proportions furnished
by the United States, Russia, Germany,
British North America. France, Denmark,
and all other countries. In commenting
on this table the committee saws: "a
glance at this summary not only
shows the rapidity of the agricultural
growth of the United States and its i'm
portance as food-exporting country, but
also presents some Of the economic
changes that have occurred in Europe.
In the first period the United States sup
olied less than 1 per cent of wheat i'm
ported into the United Kingdom, and in
the last period it supplied nearly 81 per
cent. From less than 10000 bushels 1t
Increased by a series of leaps and bounds
to about 503,001,000 bushels. Excepting
the rapid growth of imports of wheat
from India, which does not appear
in this table, India being classified
under ''all other countries" there IS
no instance in the economic history
Of a growth so rapid. The imports from
Germany have decreased from the second
period, actually as well as relatively,
while, relatively, the percentage OF de-
crease has been steadily sinking from 53
to SO per cent, next to "a and IS, and last
Nv TO D per cCUJ. IHS CT JdliIdtlOH VI tlAO
German Empire, the rapid increase OF
population, the change from an agricul-
tural condition to that of diversified in
dustries all suggest themselves as rea-
sons for the decrease. In Germany
population is overtaking the food-produc
ing capacity Of the country"
One Of the most important features OF
the report is the showing in tabular form
of prices of wheat for series OF years, ID
the principal countries of the world
These tables show that ''the average year
ly price of wheat is the lowest in India.
Ranging from s. cents per bushel, at Cal
cutta, to 81 at Bombay between 1873 and
1898. Russia comes next, the average for
the decade being 81 % per bushel at War
saw; silly per bushel at st. Peters
burg, and s1.15 per bushel at Odessa
Austria ranks third, the prlce
ranging from s118 per bushel at Buda
Pesth to S1,29 at Vienna, and S1.36 per
bushel at Trieste. The average price OF
wheat at Algiers was for the entire period
covered in the inquiry at s12S per bushel;
at Smyrna, s1.29 per bushel, and at Beirut,
s141. In the German empire the price
varies somewhat according to location
The free port of Bremen appears to enjoy
the lowest price, s1.36 per bushel, and